Basic Git Commands
DevelopmentJuly 9, 2024
Basic Git Commands

A list of commonly used Git commands.

Table of Contents

Getting & Creating Projects

CommandDescription
git initInitialize a local Git repository
git clone ssh://git@github.com/[username]/[repository-name].gitCreate a local copy of a remote repository

Basic Snapshotting

CommandDescription
git statusCheck status
git add [file-name.txt]Add a file to the staging area
git add .Add all new and changed files to the staging area
git commit -m "[commit message]"Commit changes
git rm -r [file-name.txt]Remove a file (or folder)

Branching & Merging

CommandDescription
git branchList branches (the asterisk denotes the current branch)
git branch -aList all branches (local and remote)
git branch [branch name]Create a new branch
git branch -d [branch name]Delete a branch
git push origin --delete [branch name]Delete a remote branch
git checkout -b [branch name]Create a new branch and switch to it
git checkout -b [branch name] origin/[branch name]Clone a remote branch and switch to it
git branch -m [old branch name] [new branch name]Rename a local branch
git checkout [branch name]Switch to a branch
git checkout -Switch to the branch last checked out
git checkout -- [file-name.txt]Discard changes to a file
git merge [branch name]Merge a branch into the active branch
git merge [source branch] [target branch]Merge a branch into a target branch
git stashStash changes in a dirty working directory
git stash clearRemove all stashed entries

Sharing & Updating Projects

CommandDescription
git push origin [branch name]Push a branch to your remote repository
git push -u origin [branch name]Push changes to remote repository (and remember the branch)
git pushPush changes to remote repository (remembered branch)
git push origin --delete [branch name]Delete a remote branch
git fetchSee what changed remotely without affecting local repo
git pullUpdate local repository to the newest commit
git pull origin [branch name]Pull changes from remote repository
git remote add origin ssh://git@github.com/[username]/[repository-name].gitAdd a remote repository
git remote set-url origin ssh://git@github.com/[username]/[repository-name].gitSet a repository's origin branch to SSH

Inspection & Comparison

CommandDescription
git logView changes
git log --summaryView changes (detailed)
git log --onelineView changes (briefly)
git diff [source branch] [target branch]Preview changes before merging